Category: Uncategorized

This week we were between projects and so had time to visit historic sites in Delhi. The first place we visited was Humayun’s Tomb. The complex is an expansive Mughal garden tomb and was quite peaceful even with other people around. It was built from 1565-1572 for the second Mughal emperor, Humayun, and was the inspiration for several later monuments including the Taj Mahal. There are over 150 family members laid to rest here. It was commissioned by his senior widow, Haji Begum.

 

In India the Mughals used red sandstone for their buildings because it represents the color of the royal tent. It contrasts beautifully with the white marble dome and lime-plastered arches. It is ornamented with the six-sided star. This is not only found on Islamic buildings but on Judaic, Christian and Hindu buildings as well. The delicate carvings are found throughout the buildings here and in the other places we visited this week.

We also went to The Deer Park and found a tomb and mosque there as well. It was fun to be in nature even though the deer were in an enclosure. Besides deer we also saw large bats hanging around, a mongoose scurrying along, monkeys scaring tourists and as always lots of stray dogs basking in the sun. Hauz-Khaz fort is part of a complex that was one of the first cities of Delhi known as Siri and included the lake/reservoir that is now part of Deer Park. The buildings later became a college for theological training.

Bagh-I-Alam Ka Gumbad

Our final cultural adventure was to the Qutub complex on Saturday night with a group of Indian people that do a monthly tour. We enjoyed the dramatic night lighting even though we did miss some of the detail that would have been visible in the daylight.

 

The tower, built by Qutbuddin Aibak in the late 12th century, is 240 feet tall and a monument to Islamic victory over Delhi’s last Hindu kingdom. A later ruler wanting to outdo his predecessor didn’t get very far before running out of funds but it is interesting to see what the other tower looks like under the beautifully carved facade.

I had fun taking photos of the ceilings of the various domes. Similar but each is unique.

One thing that came to mind after visiting these various places was that each of us has the opportunity to leave our mark in the world. Although these buildings were amazing I hope that my mark can be less ostentatious and more positively profound for individuals. I am anxious to do more than we currently are in serving the people of India. The wheels turn slowly as we coordinate the various aspects of our projects–government cooperation, project proposals and approvals, procurement, and vendor vetting to name a few. God is in the details of our lives and although I saw some beautiful dome ceilings, the collapsed dome was impressive as it was opened to the heavens and reminded me that nothing man can do is as great as what God can do with us as we strive to do His work.

 

Paraphrasing what the song mentions, weddings are joyful events where we celebrate life and everything good about it.

Yes, we were privileged to go to an Indian wedding this week! We were invited by the vendor, Mayank, whose cousin was getting married. Mayank supplies all the water filtration (reverse osmosis) systems that have been installed for the clean-water humanitarian projects Taunya talked about last week. Josh and Jawan have become good friends with him, and they consider him a godsend because of how good and reliable and supportive he is. He really is great to work with, and we too look forward to getting to know him better and working with him in some upcoming projects once we move to our own area. (Still don’t know when that will happen.)

So Monday we went to the Central Market where Josh was to pick up his suit pants that they had to remake. While there, Taunya and Jawan both decided to choose the fabric for and custom order an outfit called a Kurti to wear to the wedding. After some persistent asking, the shopkeeper agreed to have them ready Thursday night at 9:30. Thursday 10pm came and with it brief disappointment. But thankfully they came through, and at 10:15 the delivery was made!

When we arrived at the wedding venue Friday evening we were wowed by the setting. Flowers, arches, statues, furniture and everything — so ornamental and festive.

Going into the main courtyard we were greeted by the bride’s father, warmly welcomed, and thereafter treated like VIPs. We were there a little earlier than most guests — Mayank said there would be more than 500 coming — and so the servers in their blue uniforms and caps were hovering around us eager to have us sample all the hors d’oeuvres and refreshments we could possibly want. Surprisingly, pasta and pizza were two of the dozens of offerings in this food-court-like array of buffet-style booths featuring traditional cuisine from all over India. Roti (like crêpes) was fun — both to watch being made and to eat.

We learned that all the wonderful food we saw and sampled in the outside courtyard was just a warmup for the main course, which was inside where the atmosphere was a bit more intimate. The main course was an all-you-can-eat buffet, a fantastic smorgasbord of vegetarian Indian food delights.

Mayank informed us that this was a typical middle-class wedding. But he also said parents will save up for the entire life of their daughter to be able to afford it!

After we finished eating, we went over and met the groom, who had recently arrived. He was very friendly and gracious, and eager to have his picture taken with the four of us. I think for the most part Indians consider that a badge of honor, to have a picture taken with Americans.

As we were leaving we saw the beginning of some kind of ceremony for just the groom, together with his family and friends. The bride was not there yet, by design in their tradition. It was after 10pm, so we didn’t stay for her arrival, which I’m sure was spectacular!

Other notables:

On Thursday we had another meeting with Vinay where we discussed how we could collaborate with his organization to lift the poor and needy in New Delhi. (In my last post I mentioned his NGO in connection with the homeless shelters they run.) He told us his story, during which the Spirit in the room was strong as we pondered the nature of our calling. After losing his job in the aftermath of 9/11, he wondered what to do with his life. He said he felt called to serve God’s children, the weakest and most vulnerable of them, and so he founded a charitable society that he first conceived of 30 years ago, that would by the Grace of God chart the course of the rest of his life. Twenty-two years later the Sadik Masih Medical Social Servant Society is still going strong, and serving more and more marginalized people, who, as stated on their website, are the unheard and demeaned due to various social and cultural reasons.

Yesterday, we traveled to Kalyanpuri to witness and participate in the beginning stages of the distribution of the blankets that were delivered Wednesday night. It was thrilling to see it actually happen and get to help passing out a few blankets to those who had pre-qualified to receive them. Just seeing their grateful faces was a wonderful experience.

While waiting for the project kickoff we met a woman who wanted to thank us personally for what we were doing. She spoke pretty good English, which she learned when she worked for a time as a housekeeper for an English-speaking family. I tried talking to her in Hindi, just some simple Hindi phrases — and gave everyone a laugh at how silly I looked in my over-earnest attempts at enunciation!

The work is progressing. We feel so blessed to be here and to be able to help in this work. We thank our Heavenly Father and our Savior for the privilege and opportunity to play our small roles. We thank you for your ongoing love, support, prayers, and good thoughts sent our way. Have a great week!

Other pics:

This has been an incredible week. We had three very long days in which we saw and experienced things I hadn’t expected. I just keep thinking, “Taunya, you’re not in Kansas anymore!” (Or Rexburg)

On Wednesday we returned to meet with Raj Kumar, the community leader of Kalyanpuri (the area where the woman was making poop patties, where we met the ex-deputy mayor of Delhi with the orange office) to finalize the blanket project we are coordinating. He kindly offered us refreshments while we discussed our plans. We looked at the area he was planning to store the 5000 blankets while waiting to distribute them in an orderly fashion and then we walked over to the neighborhood hospital to meet the director to see if there were any needs we might be able to meet. Of course we were offered tea. No thank you. Coffee? No thank you. Hot water? No thank you. Here is some spiced buttermilk. What? No thank–OK. Thank you. We still haven’t tasted it.

After visiting the hospital we returned to Raj Kumar’s office to wait until lunch was ready. He then escorted us down the alley to his son’s home. We walked up the steep narrow stairway and ducked into what was kind of like a tiny mudroom and went through the doorway into, wait, this is the bedroom. They had four chairs set up at a small coffee table where the four of us ate while our hosts watched and kept giving us more food. It was all very delicious but I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable eating while they hosted knowing how little they have. We were told that they would be offended if we declined though, so we tried to enjoy their generosity.

The next day we were able meet with the leaders of the Asha Deep Foundation that runs a Catholic school, orphanage, vocational training center and schools in slums. They are especially active in helping women and children from abusive situations. They are doing so much good here in Delhi. Asha means hope and Deep is light. They are striving to bring hope and light to those that have little of either.

When we arrived at the school they greeted us with marigold garland “leis” and a song. We were escorted to the office where we were offered, you guessed it, refreshments. It included a savory biscuit called vada. Quite tasty. We then saw their presentation and toured the facility and then were served lunch at their home. We enjoyed a variety of dishes including two types of fish, one fried and one that was in a curry sauce. It was funny because just the day before when we saw lots of fish at the street market I wondered who ate fish and how it was prepared. I guess we do!

After lunch we went to the site of one of their small schools that was in a “rag picker” community. We were interested to see what was being done and what might possibly be done to improve living conditions. They earn about 50 rupees a day which amounts to about 70 cents. Of course everyone in a family works although no one under 14 is supposed to work because of child labor laws. They live among the mountains of recyclable trash.

Following this visit we went to the vocational school for underprivileged girls, youth and women. Part of the goal is to break the cycle of poverty through education and training. Here they offer classes in computers, sewing and beauty salon skills. The girls we met were delightful and working toward success. Women and girls in India are very undervalued and devalued.

On Saturday we went to the Model Town slums to check on the five Reverse Osmosis stations that were supposed to be up and running. For the most part they were and that was good news because there are an additional 15 that are supposed to be installed but there have been some problems and delays with this project.

These days of visits were long and exhausting. The travel times going from South Delhi to Northeast Delhi is about 1 hour and 15 minutes of congested streets. With horns honking, cars driving the wrong way on the freeway, broken down vehicles, ambulances, bikes, carts, horses, cows, rickshaws (electric, auto, and pedal), scooters, cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles there is always something to see. Talking with people through an interpreter or listening intently to understand their English is hard work. Then you add to that the poverty, filth, and new things to see and it is pretty intense.

The people are so kind and the children so sweet. Everyone treats us like we are very important people and we know that we are just pretty average. It’s funny how people want to have their picture taken with us and how the children in these communities want to try out their English on us and kind of dare each other to approach us. I’m sure we are quite the novelty on these back roads of Delhi. We are blessed to be here serving in India. Although we can’t directly share the light of the gospel maybe we can bring hope through clean water, blankets, computers and school supplies and change lives for the better.

Other interesting sights this week…

 

 

 

 

 

In sickness, in health

Or as another song about opposition puts it, “you’ve got to be sick to be grateful for your health!”

I think once or twice, maybe, is quite enough. I am continually grateful for the general good health I enjoy, and Taunya too. We express gratitude in our prayers every day for that great blessing.

So not since a mild bout with COVID during the first week of our mission has good health gone missing. As a probable side effect of the shot I got last week, though no doubt exacerbated by my overindulgence in Indian food Tuesday night, the next day I started experiencing some stomach and intestinal distress, which laid me low and sapped all my energy. It happened more mildly to Sister Baird, but thankfully not to Taunya or Elder Baird.

Well, there’s physical sickness, but then there’s heart sickness which in many ways is harder to bear.

In poverty’s vale

After getting enough rest Wednesday and Thursday to feel up to going out, I rejoined the ranks of humanity and our little band of humanitarians.

Early Friday morning we went to an appointment that was set up by a woman who used to work for an orphanage that Josh and Jawan are working with. She now consults with NGOs and through her we met the founder/leader of an impressive NGO that is operating in 19 states throughout India and has been around for 28 years. We had a conversation at this gentleman’s office, which Josh gave me the opportunity to lead (but very graciously stepped in when I was getting tongue-tied or off track — practically guaranteed by my not feeling 100%)!

We talked about what they do, and what we and they could collaborate on to further help the poor and needy. They provide shelters and food for the homeless, educational and vocational training, and medicine and other medical help. The founder and a couple of his staff took the consultant and us to visit some of their homeless shelters, so we could see firsthand what they are like.

The first two were surprising enough, located adjacently in a somewhat isolated setting. These are not permanent, but portable structures, on government-owned land, barely adequate for their purpose. Then they took us to a similar shelter but in a vastly different setting.

Words fail to describe what we saw while walking to this one. Frankly I’m still trying to process it. “Heartbreaking” doesn’t begin to capture our feelings. This shelter is in the middle of a shanty town — for those who don’t even have a shanty, or a family. There are 2,000 men, women and children, desperately poor, without proper water or toilets, with so little food and shelter, living in squalor worse than anything Josh and Jawan have seen in their 5.5 months here. We were told these were migrants who came to New Delhi seeking employment, and the opportunity for a better life. So much need and want!

Taunya said she was amazed to see how the little kids were happily playing with sticks or whatever, who as we passed would flash their smiles, some big, some shy, some curious. A goat wearing a sweater caught her eye, but was unconcerned about being watched.

Then there was the small boy who came to the shelter door seeking a handout, and was so polite and patient as some of the leftovers from feeding the shelter residents were scooped onto his plate. He likely was there on behalf of his family, and what he was given might have been his family’s entire food supply for that day.

Or abounding in wealth

“You’ve got to need money to appreciate wealth.”

We are so blessed! Here I just want to plug the opportunity you have to generously donate some of your abundance to the cause. That line on the donation slip labeled Humanitarian Aid is calling you! 100% of your donations go to help lift and bless the poor and needy.

At home or abroad, on the land or the sea

“You’ve got to have some problems to rise above, you’ve got to be lonely so that you can know love.”

Halfway around the world is as abroad as we can be. We feel the love and support of all of you at home, and of course the love and care of Heavenly Father and Jesus. We are grateful to you all. Thank you so much for your prayers and good wishes as we grapple with the enormity of our tasks, for which we feel so inadequate.

As thy days may demand so thy succor shall be

“It’s called opposition […] A necessary condition in this world of ours.”

We know that the Lord, our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ, will be our perfect succor, as long and as far as our days may demand. We are humbled at the blessing it is to follow Him, in trying to do some good in the world, to lift lives through work and effort and collaboration with other disciples of Christ, whose passion for their mission is so evident. These native Indians have the long view and game plan, and will be around long after we go home. It is a privilege and blessing to help in our small way while we can.

One of the things we are learning here is to go with the flow. It would seem that no plan is ever a sure thing and that opportunities appear out of nowhere. On Monday we had a relatively simple day planned that included going over to the Mission Home and to Central Market. Once at the office Josh got a call that we had an opportunity to meet with the ex-deputy mayor of Delhi. The time was set for 4:30 but it would take an hour or more to get there. Meanwhile we were invited to lunch to celebrate a fellow missionary’s birthday. Just when we figured out how we could do both the meeting was changed to the following day. I was glad to be able to have a more relaxing lunch and get to know people better. Following lunch we went to Central Market where Elder Jones was to pick up a suit he was having made. Unfortunately it had some adjustments that needed to be made and he had to return later in the week.

Central Market was fascinating. It was a giant bazaar. There were buildings around the perimeter with small shops that had goods spilling out onto the street area. The streets in the center were full of shops that were in permanent booths and then there were street vendors with goods in carts, on poles or laid out on the ground. There were all kinds of clothes, fabric, trims, jewelry, purses, shoes, foods and more. There were crowds of people and the ground was uneven and dirty which made it hard to walk while looking at all the stuff to buy.

On Tuesday we were able to go to the appointment postponed from Monday. The Uber dropped us off on a street that had few buildings and was not an area that any tourist would ever go. As I got out of the car I had to step over a dangling electrical wire. People were giving us puzzled looks and I felt very out of place. Deepanshu (our interpreter) called the man who set up the appointment and we learned we were in the general area. We walked down the road until it turned into a wide uneven path and headed toward a wall. Outside this wall were some piles of garbage, a cow plowing through the garbage looking for food, a litter of puppies in the garbage and various stray dogs as well as a man painting the wall yellow. As we waited to figure out where we should go next another cow came through the stile in the wall. Several people had gone to the other side and we decided we should go that way. It was nicer on the inside than I expected, but when we turned a corner there was another dump area, about 8 cows and a woman making poop patties from a pile of cow manure. She had them all lined up very neatly on the ground and on top of a low wall to dry. When dry they would be sold for fuel. (Think pioneers and buffalo chips.)

Just as we were taking all of this in some children dashed out and shook Rick’s hand. They were as intrigued with us as we were with them. Some teenaged kids were in the park and stopped their game to wave and say “hi”. As we continued down the road everyone we passed wondered about us. We returned many “namaste” greetings and eventually came to an area of the community that was a little nicer. We were directed down an alley to the community leader’s office. It was a room in a block wall type building at the end of this alley way. In my mind I thought we were going to an office, in an office building, in an urban area of town. That there would be a foyer, a receptionist and windows. Here’s a picture of the office.

The people are very hospitable and always offer at least something to drink. We weren’t keen on drinking the water since one of the projects we were talking about was water purification. He offered soda and we accepted but then I felt bad because he had to send someone to the store to buy it. He also offered us some snacks. We have been very careful about what we eat here but didn’t want to offend so enjoyed the offerings. The meeting progressed and after discussing possible project options for his community he connected us with an MP (member of parliament). We headed over to that office, which was more like what I had been expecting, and spoke with his personal assistant. It was rather late when we got home. But at least we had drinks and snacks!

Saturday we went sightseeing to Swaminarayan Akshardham, which is a Hindu temple and cultural center on 100 acres in Delhi. It is an architectural wonder carved in pink sandstone and Carrara marble. They don’t allow photography on the grounds so the first picture is from a book and the second was outside the complex.

We spent about four hours marveling at the intricacies of the carving and the beauty of the philosophies.

So this week we had to adapt and scramble as we navigated the use of Uber on our own, adjusted plans to accommodate sudden appointments and changed appointments not only with government leaders but also for our Japanese encephalitis vaccine. Today I marveled that I am halfway around the world adapting to a different culture and environment and felt so thankful for the constancy of God’s love for me and the blessing of having His plan to guide my life.

 

 

 

This week, being our last here in the Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission, has been both happy and sad. Although we feel like it is time to move on to our original assignment in India we are leaving behind so many new friends and the comforts and familiarity of being here. We had a nice dinner party with about 200 of our fellow missionaries, treats galore, ate out one last time and spent Christmas Eve with Rick’s family and will have Christmas dinner in a couple of hours. No it’s not all about food, but who knows when we will have American food again!

This week has been interesting in other ways as well. While many places across the country experienced extreme cold, India too issued a cold weather warning because it was supposed to get down to 44 that night! Meanwhile our high was about 24 and I know other places were colder than that.

Needless to say this has been a very different Christmas. It has been fun though with all the musical performances that we attended and that we sang in, being with family here in Utah and having very few Christmas preparations. We spent yesterday (Christmas Eve) doing laundry, sorting–what stays here, what goes home, what goes to India–and cleaning our apartment. (It sure was hard to pack those large bags again.)

Mostly I just want to wish you all well and hope that you can find peace and joy as you navigate life in the upcoming year.

 

Merry Christmas!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Lea Salonga sang so last night with the Tabernacle Choir at their Christmas Concert we were privileged to go to. It was fabulous, exhilirating, inspiring, touching, gloriously spectacular and soul-stirring! A definite highlight in the program, honoring Him who is the Light of the World, we were participants in the telling of Endless Gifts, Endless Light: The Nicholas Winton Story by Sir David Suchet, who, near the end of this Christmas story, invited all of us in the audience to hold up the light on our cell phones. As the program directed:

If you’d like to join in, have your phone ready and hold it up like a Christmas star — still and steady. While you’re holding up your phone, you’ll also have the opportunity to join us in singing a new verse of “Once in Royal David’s City.”

Other exciting news — we got our visas! And our travel arrangements! In ten short days we leave for India — departing from the Idaho Falls airport early Wednesday morning, 28 December, arriving 26 (!) hours later in New Delhi!

Yes, we are coming home to Rexburg on the day after Christmas to leave our vehicle in garage protection, depositing our winter clothes and other stuff we brought here in October, and saying goodbye again. It is finally happening —leaving the comfort zone of familiar sights, sounds, smells, routines and rhythms of life here to begin Phase 4 — life as bona fide humanitarians!

Other mention-worthies:

On Wednesday, we had a two-zone luncheon in the Wasatch Room on the top floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The meal was absolutely delicious, and it was a great opportunity to get to know our fellow missionaries a little better. We were entertained afterwards by the Taylorsville High Madrigals, a very energetic and talented group of young performers!

Another musical program we were blessed to enjoy last Sunday was The Schubert Singers. My sister LuJean sings with them, to our delight!

I had the chance to visit and give service to a friend on Wednesday as well, and on Thursday we were blessed to be able to visit with family at the Taylor/Padgett residence. Dear Aunt Fran — we love you! (Aunt Joan and Uncle Wayne were there too, and it was great to see them, and express our mutual love and appreciation!) While we were there Aunt Fran’s daughter, my cousin Ardie, looked up the total number of records her mom had indexed or reviewed — a phenomenal 2,166,550!

Today I finished rereading the Book of Mormon — which I was determined to do before we left. I’m looking forward to starting again, and reading it in conjunction with our study of the New Testament next year. Reflecting on Moroni 10, I am profoundly grateful to know that Moroni’s promise is real! And as Taunya wrote last week, “our knowledge of the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith and his inspired understanding of Jesus Christ helps us to know Christ better.”

Since Joseph Smith’s birthday is next Friday the 23^rd, I want to bear my testimony of him too. What a time to live, when we are the beneficiaries of his life and work! I know he is the Prophet of the Restoration, chosen and called as the instrument in God’s hands to bring the world Another Testament of Jesus Christ and restore the Lord’s Church and Kingdom in these Last Days. The Lord Jesus Christ lives! The Babe of Bethlehem will come again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and my soul yearns for His approbation as he finishes preparations for and begins His Millennial Reign!

Have a Most Wonderful Christmas Time this coming week and beyond!

 

 

 

It has been an interesting week here in the mission. My spirits were lifted by three different men. First was on Thursday when we were out walking and it had snowed. The sidewalks were slippery but not too bad around the Conference Center. I was feeling a little discouraged about things in general and needed to take a brisk walk. That doesn’t work out very well when it is icy. Then as we were walking along we found this…

He totally cheered me up!

This week I was able to help many visitors. They were in town from all over–Bangladesh, Germany, Switzerland, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and California. Which brings me to the next experience. I was working with a man from California and he was super stoked (his words) about creating his family tree. Unfortunately he didn’t know as much information as needed to get very far but was excited to continue at home where he could fill in details with help from his mother. As we were talking about our lives and families I learned that he was a contractor and had a DIY home improvement podcast. After I got home I looked it up and found out that I had been helping a guy who was on the soap opera Santa Barbara, was one of People magazine’s “sexiest men alive” in 2008 and was a host for a couple of shows on HGTV. He was tall and nice looking, but I thought he was just a regular guy in town with his son who was here to play basketball. Funny…

The last experience was at church today when Elder Kevin Pearson, the Utah Area President, spoke to us. It was a needed boost because even though there are pretty lights, nativity displays and Christmas concerts, it doesn’t feel like Christmas is only two weeks away. He spoke of the season and how our knowledge of the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith and his inspired understanding of Jesus Christ helps us to know Christ better. That we are known and loved individually and that as we follow Christ’s teachings we can be abundantly blessed. He also said that as we serve and sacrifice as missionaries we receive blessings, and because of our willingness to consecrate our time, talents and resources our families will be blessed, too!

The dictionary defines rejoice as feel or show great joy or delight.

This week’s blog post title comes from O Come, O Come, Emmanuel — one of the songs the mission choir will be singing in our devotional program tomorrow. It will be the culmination of a lot of effort and practice. However, I can’t help compare the experience with my days of singing with the Saltaires Show Chorus, whose Christmas shows required us to learn twice as many songs, and by heart too. Needless to say, our mission choir will not be “off the paper” for any of our eight songs. But we’re glad we can contribute to the cause, even though the quality is not what we’d like it to be.

As Taunya mentioned last week, the holidays are joyful times. And we have many, many reasons to rejoice. Just to name 4 this week:

Reason 1. The Minarchiks got their visas! They fly out this coming Wednesday for the Czech Republic, and we really are happy for them. But with December here, I have to revise my prediction for when our visas will come — any month now!

Reason 2. We were able to go to the temple yesterday morning and do some ordinances for two more of Taunya’s ancestors.

Reason 3. Last evening we went to the Jenny Oaks Baker concert at Kingsbury Hall. The show was called Joy to the World — A Sacred Christmas Celebration. It was spectacular! There were many guest artists, including the Children’s Dance Theatre that our grand-niece Arya belongs to. She and her fellow dancers did a terrific job in the first number, Angels We Have Heard On High, and it was a ton of fun to see her perform — our first time ever to watch her do this thing she loves.

Reason 4. Tonight we were greatly blessed to be able to attend the First Presidency Christmas Devotional in the Conference Center. It was a wonderful mix of beautiful music and spirit-lifting talks. The Savior is worthy of our worship every day, but it’s always great this time of year to focus on His First Advent, his long-awaited birth, the giving by our God of the superlative Gift of His Son. I thought The First Noel arrangement the Tabernacle Choir sang so spiritedly was especially moving.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel!

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee,
O Israel.

As modern Israel we joyfully anticipate His Second Coming, and rejoice in being called to serve Him in preparing the world for that great day!